AMID THE controversy over the alleged exodus of Hindu families from Kairana, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has started a state-wide survey in UP to identify areas where population of Hindus has decreased in comparison to Muslims over the years.

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In a three-day meet in Patna beginning June 23, around 225 VHP office-bearers from across the country would discuss Kairana and other areas, where the population of Hindus has allegedly gone down. They would also decide on an action plan to prevent further migration of Hindus from these areas.

“The VHP has often raised the issue. But the situation is very serious in UP. Hence, when the Kairana issue was highlighted in the media, all district units were asked to identify areas where the population of Hindus has decreased,” VHP national joint general secretary Surendra Jain said. He added: “Till Saturday, we received a list of 60 areas in western UP where Hindus were in majority 30 years ago. But now, Muslims are in majority there.”

In most of these areas — Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Sambhal, Shamli, Amroha, Bijnor and Rampur — Hindu population has come down from 15 per cent to 8 per cent, claimed Jain. Many of these areas are surrounded by Hindu-dominated localities and villages.